Jade's POV

I grunted and shifted uncomfortably on my seat, for like the umpteenth time and narrowed my eyes on the road. I was tired of being cooped up inside the moving vehicle, with all of the boxes that held our luggage.

We were moving again, for the second time after my father's death!

The first move was from my father's house to a cheap, shitty apartment, after the loan sharks came to throw our belongings outside. That was when we learnt my father had used the house as a collateral.

"Jade, why don't you stop sulking already and look approachable. We are almost at the house." My mother, Selena said to me, scrunching her nose in disgust.

"Am I looking unapproachable, right now, Mom?" I turned to face her and tried to fake a smile at her, but I knew that ended like a grimace, as my mother scoffed.

"Just stop pretending, please!" My mother said and hissed.

I gritted inwardly and heaved a deep sigh. Afterwards, I could finally manage a small smile which was threatening to disappear anytime soon.

"Mom, I am not pretending. I told you I am actually glad we are moving into your boyfriend's house. I mean, why won't I be? You said it is a mansion, isn't it?" I asked her, pretending to actually be excited.

My mother nodded, reluctantly.

"Great! At least that is better than our one-bedroom apartment which could barely accommodate our belongings." I pointed out.

"For the last time, Jade, we are not moving into Raymond's house because of his wealth! I am not some sort of a gold digger, alright?" My mother maintained, firmly as if trying to convince even herself that she was doing the right thing.

I understood what she was doing.

"Of course, I know that very well, Mom. You need companionship so you won't die as a lonely, pitiful young widow!" I stated, sarcastically, repeating her usual line whenever she was doing what I didn't like.

Such as jumping from one boyfriend to another. Raymond Peterson was her fifth boyfriend, and it was just two years after my father's death. Although, it would be the first time we would be moving into her boyfriend's house, as she usually brought them to our house, instead.

On days when her boyfriends had to sleep over, I would have to go and sleep at the neighbor's house. Despite knowing how badly the neighbors speak of her, my mother would still send me there, for a sleepover.

Raymond was the first wealthy boyfriend she had gotten for herself and the former after coming over for a lunch on their second date and seeing our living condition, had insisted we move into his mansion.

"I understand that and that is why I am giving you my full support." I added calmly but seethed, inwardly.

"You should definitely give me the support, whether you are okay with my decision or not. Who made me become a widow, overnight, anyway?" My mother slammed at me, furiously.

My eyes became teary and I clenched my fists. That was her weapon against me, always.

I bet she knew how much that messed me up, yet she wouldn't stop using it against me.

"Yes, I am the bad child who caused the death of your beloved husband and I will forever be sorry for that. I am going to live my life in regret, forever. You don't need to remind me, Mom, because I won't ever forget it." I gritted out, feeling so upset.

"But you should know that he was and still is as dear to me, as he is to you. You are not the only one suffering, Mom." I added.

My response seemed to shut her up, and she just smacked her lips and kept looking at the road.

I struggled to keep in the tears stinging the corners of my eyes, and sniffled a little.

I knew the driver would definitely be hearing everything we were saying, so I decided to shut up, as well.

"That is enough of washing our dirty linens, in the presence of a complete stranger." I mumbled under my breath.

And we continued our journey in absolute silence.

Memories of my father came crashing on my mind, and I knew I was doing a terrible job, trying to let the past things remain in the past.

I couldn't help but wonder if my father would ever blame me for what had happened to him.

Remembering the kind of a sweet and understanding father he was during his lifetime, I knew he would never blame me for his death.

It wasn't my fault, and at the same time, it was my fault!

He had met his sudden end when...

"We are here!" I heard my mom's voice rang out and that jolted me to reality.

I realized I had closed my eyes shut and I opened them slowly, to have a look at our new environment.

The vehicle had driven into a mansion, and despite myself, I could notice how beautiful its surrounding, looked.

"Get down from the vehicle and come help us with the offloading." My mother said to me and it was only then that I realized she and the driver were no longer in the vehicle with me.

"Coming!" I muttered and alighted from the vehicle.

Just as my feet touched the ground, Raymond drove into the compound.

He parked his car and walked up to our vehicle, with excitement written all over him.

"I am glad you guys are finally here. I hope I haven't kept you, waiting?" Raymond asked my mom as he hugged her tenderly.

"No, darling. We just got here." My mother replied him and placed a kiss on his lips. The public display of attention made me roll my eyes.

"Hey, dear child! Welcome to your new home." Raymond said to me as he stopped hugging my mom and moved to hold my hand.

Dear child? How pretentious that sounded to my hearing!

I nearly flinched from his touch but when I glanced at my mom's face and saw how she was looking at me, I managed to let him hold my hand. But it was for a split second. I stylishly removed my hand from his hold, immediately.

I couldn't blame him too much, though. I knew he was trying his best to satisfy my mom and he thought by being good to me, would make my mom so happy.

"Thank you, sir." I replied him. He quickly shook his head.

"No, please feel free to call me Raymond. Then, that can slowly grow to dad." He informed me, all smiles.

I almost snapped at him that I could never address any of my mother's boyfriends as my dad, even if they eventually get married, because none of them could replace my father, but I pulled back the anger and just stared at him, flatly, as I didn't want to create a scene on our first day, at his house.

If I should disrespect him, my mother would be sad, and she might commit suicide if things didn't work out between them. The new man was her purpose of living.

That was what she had told me the previous day.

"Erm, let us go inside. The house helps will come and offload the luggage, don't worry about it." Raymond said to me and mom, after he realized I wasn't going to make any comment on his statement.

Whether that annoyed him or not, I didn't know, and I didn't even want to know.

I wanted to let him know that I was okay with helping to offload the luggage but my mom spoke up before I could.

"Oh, okay." My mom replied him and he quickly led the way.

I heaved a sigh and followed them in.

"I have been through worse. What could possibly go wrong at this stage?" I thought as I walked inside the mansion, completely clueless of the unpleasant surprise that awaited me inside.

"My son should be back from his outing, I guess." I heard Raymond told my mom.

I wasn't even curious about the son. I knew he would be just another boring teenager and couldn't give a damn about him. Everybody would simply maintain their lanes in the big house.

"Oh, good. I guessed right. Meet my son, Selena. He is Andrew." I heard Raymond told my mom and I reluctantly raised up my eyes, to take a nonchalant look at the supposed son.

But when I laid my eyes on him, my stomach turned, unsettling and my eyes nearly bulged out of their sockets.

"No way!" I yelled.